Orchid-SLC, Hazel Boyd, variety John Germaske

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of orchard hybrid plant which is outstanding and distinct from other orchids because of its matchless superior flowers, which combine the rare brilliant red coloring of the petals, the backside of the sepals turning to orange color at maturity, long lasting quality, extra large size of the petals for this type of plant, and vigorous and reliable blooming, the new variety is also distinctive from its parent population and similar hybrids by its plant structure.

DISCOVERY OF THE NEW VARIETY

This new orchard plant originated as a seedling from the followingunpatented varieties:

Sophrolaeliocattleya Jewel Box, variety "Beverly", female parent, andSophrolaeliocattleya California Apricot, variety "Orange Circle", maleparent.

The orchid plant, resulting from the cross, was developed by RodMcLellan Company, 1450 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, Calif., andwas named by the undersigned "Sophrolaeliocattleya SLC Hazel Boyd",which name was registered with The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, on Mar. 4, 1975.

The new orchid plant of the application was discovered in 1979 by theundersigned and immediately recognized as distinctive and superior inits flowers and an outstanding member of a large population of over sixhundred (600) plants produced from the above described cross. Thevarietal name "John Germaske" was added to the Hybrid's name to identifythe new variety of this application.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

After the discovery of this new variety with its distinct andoutstanding characteristics, the original plant was placed in my OrchardNursery in Miami, Fla. During the years following its discovery, theplant was asexually reproduced by me through botanical divison. All ofthe propagations thus produced since this plant was discovered in 1979have been identical to the mother plant in all general and specificcharacteristics, and all continued to be readily distinguishable fromboth parent plants and other plants in the same general population.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a typical adult plant of this newvariety.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of the reverse side of the flower showingthe coloring of the maturing flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOWER

The flowers of the new variety SLC, "John Germaske" are of exceptionaloutstanding red coloring. As the flower attains maturity, the back sideof the sepal becomes orange in color. In the following description, theprincipal colors are specified by reference to the code numbers of TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Charts (hereinafter HCC) and TheBritish Colour Council Dictionary of Color Standards (hereinafter BCC).

When the flower initially opens the petals and sepals are Current Red(HCC 820/2), as it matures it lightens to Post Office Red (BCC 209). Thelateral sepals have faint Indian Orange (713) stripes running laterally.The outer edge of the lip is Current Red (HCC 820/2) lightening tocenter with golden veins. The base of the petals and sepals are paleIndian Orange (HCC 713). The reverse side of the sepals turn to IndianOrange (HCC 713) at maturity.

The flowers are of long lasting quality, remaining in good form up totwo months and even longer in colder climates. This is a longerflowering period than that of the parent population and other similarorchids.

The petals are extra large size for this type of plant. The flowers ofthis new variety are of the following average dimensions:

Natural spread of the flower: 10.5 cm

Petal width: 5.3 cm

Petal length: 5.7 cm

Dorsal sepal width: 2.5 cm

Dorsal sepal length: 5.8 cm

Lateral sepal width: 2.4 cm

Lateral sepal length: 5.3 cm

Labellum length: 4.0 cm

Labellum width: 2.9 cm

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The plant is shown in FIG. 1, a color photograph accompaying thisspecification.

The plant attains a height of 26 cm. to 30 cm. on maturity.

The leaves at full growth reach 19 cm. to 23 cm, and are narrow andsemi-upright. As the plant matures, the older leaves droop and becomewhat is commonly referred to as mule-ear type leaves, this is a mostdesirable feature as the drooping leaves provide for an unobstructedview of the flowers.

The rizone is very short, ranging from non-existent to 0.5 cm.

This plant has been uniformly vigorous in its growth habits, yet quitecompact in size. It produces multiple growths with an average of 3 to 4flowers per stem. This plant will often produce flowers without asheath.

The plant will reliably flower once and frequently twice each year.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive variety of orchard plant substantiallyas herein described and illustrated and distinguished from its parentand other orchids by its combination of matchless rare brilliant redcoloring, the color of the back of the sepals turning to orange atmaturity, large size of the flowers, superior lasting quality andvigorous reliable blooming.